CCSS2 Unit 8: The Christian Kingdoms

CCSS2 Unit 8: The Christian Kingdoms p.145

Part 1: The Christian Principalities p.146

-The Muslims never managed to conquer the people of the north.

-Several Christian principalities emerged there à later they became kingdoms

1.1 Political Development

1.THE KINGDOM OF LEON AND ASTURIAS

-The Asturs were the Hispano-Celtic inhabitants of what is now Asturias, León, and northern Zamora.

-We know they were in Spain by the 6^th century BC

-In the 6^th century AD they were conquered by the Visigoths and absorbed into their kingdom.

-They were a horse-riding highland cattle-raising people who lived in circular huts of stone drywall construction.

-Their leader was Don Pelayo (722 Covadonga)

-Alfonso I was the first Asturian king (739-757)

-In the 10^th century, under Alfonso III the kingdom expanded to the Duero Valley (à called The Kingdom of León)

2. CASTILLA

-governed by León until the 10^th C. à independence

-11^th C. became a kingdom (Fernando I was king)

-1230: Castilla + León united under Fernando III (=Crown of Castilla)

-12^th C. Portugal (a county of Castilla) gained independence and became a kingdom

3. NAVARRA

-8^th C. controlled by the Carolingians

-9^th C. The Arista family gained independence à founded the Kingdom of Pamplona à Navarra

-11^th C: Sancho III expanded the kingdom

4. ARAGON

-was a small territory that belonged to Navarra til the 11^th C.

-gained independence under Ramiro I

-1035: became a kingdom

-12^th C Kingdom of Aragón united with County of Barcelona (= Crown of Aragón)

1.2 Reconquest and Repopulation p.147

A-“The Reconquest” = the Christian advance to the south, conquering Muslim territory (8^th – 15^th C)

-until 1000 al-Andalus was stronger, so advance was slow

-11^th C the division of al-Andalus into taifas weakened it à they were unable to stop the Christians, even with help from the Almoravids/Almohads.

-1212 Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa (Gualilquivir)

-Everything except the Granada was conquered in the 13^th C - Boabdil gave it up to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492

B. “REPOPULATION” = the establishment of Christian settlements in the land that was newly conquered from the Muslims.

3 Different ways

1.North/Center of Peninsula: Much of the regained area was empty, so the kings took it for themselves

à They offered it to colonists to cultivate

à They also granted fueros and cartas puebla to city councils to let them organize the new settlements.

fuero: a code of law where the king gives certain rights to a city's inhabitants

carta puebla: same thing but for a town

2. In Levante, part of Cataluña and some areas in the center of the Peninsula Capitulations : The Muslims were allowed to stay, as long as they paid a special tax.

3. In Andalucía, Valencia, the Balearic Islands and Murcia  REPARTIMIENTOS: the king gave Muslim houses/land to people who had helped during the Reconquest (more land to those who gave more).

PART 2: POLITICS, ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

2.1 POLITICAL ORGANIZATION P.150

Christian Kingdoms’ Political Institutions:

1.       Monarchy: feudal (vassals = nobles of the king); The king had more power in Castilla and Portugal than in Aragón and Navarra.

2.      Cortes: -bourgeoisie, clergy and nobility.

a.      The king usually summoned them to approve new taxes.

b.      In Aragón+Navarra they restricted the king’s power and had more decision-making powers.

3.     Administration:

a.      To administer justice: The Chancillería in Castilla and the Justicia Mayor in Aragon.

b.      To collect taxes: the treasury

c.       To represent the king: territorial delegates like the merino in Castilla and the vaguer in Aragon.

4.     Economy:

CROWN OF ARAGON

a.      farming/livestock (interior)

b.      craftwork/trade (only in cities, Barcelona + Valencia)

PORTUGAL

a.      developed foreign tradeàpowerful fleet + lots of expeditions across the Atlantic.

5.     Crown of Castilla

a.      Sheep rearing

b.      The Meseta: an association that defended the interests of transhumant livestock holders (shepherds who move inwinter/summer schedules) against those of farmers.

c.       Wool was sold abroad (Netherlands via Bilbao and Santander) - brought markets and fairs

2.3 SOCIETY P.152

-A pyramid of estates w/the king at the top.

1.       PRIVILEGED ESTATES

a.       Nobility: divided into high nobles (who lived from their lands) and low nobles, who worked for a high noble.

b.      Clergy: bishops, abbots and grand masters (highest bosses) of military orders

2.      NON-PRIVILEGED ESTATES

a.      Peasants: biggest group. They could be the owners or coloni of the land they farmed (coloni are dependent on the feudal lord)

b.      Bourgeoisie: grew in importance as cities grew.

3.      THE COEXISTENCE OF 3 CULTURES

a.      Christians, Jews and Mudejars lived peacefully together until the 14^th C.

b.      Jews began to be persecuted because they were envied for holding high position in administration and for being moneylenders.

c.       They were scapegoats for the Black Death and the economic crisis.  In 1391 the Jewish quarters of Sevilla, Córdoba and Valencia were attacked.

PART 4: CULTURE, ARCHITECTURE AND ART

4.1 CULTURE P.158

THE TOLEDO SCHOOL OF TRANSLATORS- They translated works of Muslim and Ancient Greek philosophers and scientists from Arabic to Latin and later into Castilian.

In the 11^th C.

-the first texts appeared in Romance Languages.

-Universities were founded in Palencia, Salamanca and Valladolid.